Cistus x argenteus 'Silver Pink'

About this cultivar:

Cistus x argenteus 'Silver Pink' has been very popular in gardens for over 100 years! Originally a 1910 introduction from Hilliers nursery it is also known as Cistus x lenis 'Grayswood Pink'. It is particularly free flowering, and forms a neat mound, with a profusion of delicate, papery, silvery-pink flowers, fading to almost white in the centre, during summer. Great in a sunny spot at the front of a border or in a container. One of the hardiest Cistus it is also , like other rock rose, quite drought tolerant.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: June, July, August
• Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert, Bees and Butterflies, 
• Hardiness: H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5°C), Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Habit: Bushy
• Foliage: Evergreen
• Height: 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft)
• Spread: 45 - 75 cm (1.5 - 2.5 ft)
• Time to full growth: 5 to 10 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, Shrub
• Colour: Pink, white, green
• Goes well with: Papaver, Aster, Astrantia and Salvia.  Luzula nivea or Pennisetum 
  

About this genus:

Cistus (from the Greek "Kistos" meaning "box") are perennial evergreen shrubs found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands. Not only is Cistus popular as a garden plant, but the leaves and stems of a few species (including Cistus ladanifer) are the source of a perfume ingredient called labdanum that has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians. It has a long hstory in these islands - being grow by John Tradescant the Elder (c. 1570s – 15–16 April 1638),

The common name, rock rose, derives from its native rocky coastal habitat and rose-like flowers - it has no thorns! The charming rock rose flowers are usually white or pink/purple and often have distinctive maroon spots surrounding a central yellow eye. The flowers attract butterflies but each one only lasts a day. Cistus plants produce large numbers of flowers and are full of colour for 2 to 3 months in the late spring or summer.

Cistus species are often evergreen and many reach shrub-like proportions that make them them popular hedge plants. But some are smaller in habit. As its native habitat implies, Cistus is quite heat- and drought-tolerant. It also tolerates frequent pruning, poor soils, and salt spray (but don't prune it too hard).

Believe it or not we have grown Cistus in wet-clay, where the soil or atmosphere is far from its native Mediterranean habitat.  How? Well, as is our 'philosphy' we ignored the books and tried many different cultivars until we found one that worked! (although not necessarily thrived!) These cultivars should be available here (but not always because we aren't the best at being organised).

Although the Cistus cultivars we sell should tolerate more clay and wet than other cultivars you want to try to be as clay-free and dry as possible. "Well-drained" is the key word(words?).  Good plant partners include Artemisia, Perovskia, and Stachys.